Wasps (the insects) are common around outdoor gatherings toward the end of summer. It’s pretty much guaranteed if you’re eating or drinking on a patio in late August, wasps will soon join the party. Unless you happen to be allergic to their stings, they’re basically harmless but they can be very annoying. In fact, there were so many buzzing around me the other day when I was trying to read on my porch that I had to go back inside.

I spoke to a pest control expert and he told me that business has been steady this year in Toronto. We had a lengthy garbage strike earlier this summer and the wasp and insect population exploded with all of the garbage that sat around outside for weeks. Luckily there are a few ways to keep the pests under control:

Keep BBQs and Recycling/Garbage Bins Clean

Prevention goes a long way in controlling wasps. If there is nothing to attract them, they’ll be less likely to come around. Clean barbeque grills after use and discard any old food that falls through the grill. Keep outdoor garbage and recycling bins clean: rinse with a hose and use an environmentally friendly cleaner such as vinegar, baking soda or eco-friendly dishwashing soap (bleach is not recommended as it may contaminate the organic waste). Many municipalities allow green bins to be lined with recyclable bags which helps keep spills and mess to a minimum.

Dryer Sheets

I had heard that dryer sheets repel wasps but was skeptical. So I purchased a box of Bounce sheets (I’m not endorsing a particular brand, it was just what was in stock) and headed outside with my book. I placed a dryer sheet on my footstool and settled in to read for a half hour or so. Not a single wasp came near me. It’s hardly scientific proof but I’ll definitely be arming myself with a dryer sheet or two the next time I sit outside during wasp season.

Wasp Traps

Building a simple wasp trap from a used plastic bottle will capture some of the bugs and draw them away from people. It costs nothing and takes minutes to put together. Check out How to Make a Wasp Trap for step-by-step instructions with pictures. You can also purchase attractive glass traps that can be hung around your property.

Exterminators

If there is a wasp nest in a place where it could endanger people (particularly if someone is allergic), consult an exterminator about getting rid of it. They can help you decide if the nest should be destroyed and safely deal with it if necessary.

Update: I have heard from a couple of people about putting up fake ‘wasp nests’ made of fabric to deter wasps. Apparently they are territorial and won’t go near an area they believe has been claimed by other wasps. It’s an environmentally friendly option because they don’t contain chemicals or kill the wasps. A fruit store near my house has a number of them mounted near the outdoor displays to keep pests away from the fruit. Check out Waspinator.com for more information.

In addition to wasps, apparently it’s been a bad year for fruit flies as well. Check out my tip from last summer, How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies, for some advice in getting rid of them.

There is a new Kitchen Tip of the Week posted each week. You can also check out the archives for more helpful tips and tricks.

A couple of weeks ago I awoke to a dark and silent house. The power was out. It turns out that a giant tree limb had fallen on the street behind my house, taking down the power lines with it. It took most of the day but the power was restored and things went back to normal. However, sometimes power outages can last for much longer, as was the case six years ago when a massive outage affected much of northeast North America for a few days. We’re also in the middle of hurricane and tornado season and power outages are common during these storms.

If you’re concerned about power outages and the contents of your fridge while you’re away, consider this tip: Place an ice cube in a ziplock bag and lay it flat in the freezer. Check on it when you return – if the ice cube is still intact, everything in the fridge and freezer should still be good. If the ice cube has melted and re-frozen, the power was out for an extended period and the contents are not safe to eat and should be discarded.

If the power is out for a relatively short time, refrigerated foods should still be safe for about 4 to 6 hours. Do not open the fridge during this time, as it will let in warm air and increase the temperature. If the power outage is going to last longer, add bags of ice to the fridge. A refrigerator thermometer is good to have so you can ensure that the proper temperature is maintained in the fridge and freezer, particularly if you live in an area that is prone to a lot of blackouts. A good guideline for safe food handling is: If in Doubt, Throw it Out.

Onions are notorious for causing eye irritation when we peel and cut them. Some people are quite sensitive to this and some onion varieties are more pungent than others. To avoid tears when chopping onions, try some of the following tricks:

Light a candle close to your cutting board just before you begin to peel and chop your onions. The flame will burn off irritating fumes before they get to your eyes.

If you’re very sensitive to onions, try wearing goggles when you chop. Yes, it looks a bit silly but it will keep your eyes from getting red and watery.

Peel onions under cold water.

Cut onions under a strong stove vent. Just move your cutting board to the stovetop and turn the fan on full power et voila! The onion fumes will be whisked away.

Use a small fan to blow fumes away. Place a small portable fan near your cutting board and it will keep the onion’s compounds from reaching your eyes.

Source: How to Break and Egg: 1,453 Kitchen Tips, Food Fixes, Emergency Substitutions, and Handy Techniques, by the Editors, Contributors, and Readers of Fine Cooking Magazine.

There is a new Kitchen Tip of the Week posted each week. You can also check out the archives for more helpful tips and tricks.

If you drink wine, you’re likely to have some corks lying around. Although many wine makers are switching to synthetic corks or even screw-top enclosures, a lot of bottles still have real corks. Cork is produced from the cork oak and is considered an environmentally friendly product. It is also a useful material around the house.

Here are a few ideas for using wine corks:

Cut a Slice of Cork to Steady a Wobbly Table

If you have a table that wobbles slightly, you can use a sharp knife to cut a slice of cork to place under the leg to steady the table. Cut to the desired thickness. In addition, if you have a small item that is missing a leg, a cork can be used to replace it. For example, my old microwave lost one of it’s legs and I cut a cork to size and used it in place of the missing leg.

Use a sharp knife to slice cork for your various household needs

Put Pieces of Cork on the Back of Hanging Frames so they Don’t Mark the Wall

Sometimes a hanging picture will mark the wall if someone bumps against it, particularly in high traffic areas. A few small rounds of cork glued to the back of the frame will prevent this.

A few small pieces of cork will keep picture frames from marking your walls

Protect Knife Tips

A knife block is the best way to store knives but if necessary, you can protect the tips of your sharp knives by sticking them in a cork.

A knife block is best but a cork will protect tips in a pinch

Store Small Sharp Objects

Corks are a great way to organize small sharp objects such as corn cob holders, tacks or push pins. Just stick them into a cork and you’ll be able to find them in your drawer easily, without poking yourself with the sharp ends in the process.

Organize sharp objects like corn cob holders and push pins with a cork

Protect Your Furniture

Slicing a few pieces of cork and gluing them to the bottom of items that could mark furniture is a free alternative to buying felt protectors. Old trivets and coasters can also be saved with a few pieces of sliced cork.

One final use for a used cork: to re-cork a part bottle of wine. However, the portion of the cork that was in the wine will swell up, making it hard to get back into the bottle. Turn it around so the narrower (dry) end goes into the bottle and you should have no trouble.

Enjoy!

There is a new Kitchen Tip of the Week posted each week. You can also check out the archives for more helpful tips and tricks.

Now that summer has finally arrived, the weather is nice enough that cooking often moves outdoors to the barbeque. Whether you cook on gas or charcoal, there is nothing like a nice steak or ribs cooked to perfection on the ‘que. In addition to the usual burgers and meats, I also like to grill vegetables and fish. To do this, you may need a grill pan so your meal doesn’t wind up falling through the grate and getting charred to a crisp.

Grill pans can usually be found for less than $15 at many hardware stores and supermarkets

Inexpensive grill pans can be found at hardware stores, supermarkets, kitchen stores and places that specialize in barbeque equipment. They are typically metal with medium sized holes along the bottom so smaller items can cook efficiently and still get a great smokey flavour (particularly if you’re cooking over charcoal). There are also mesh grill pans available from stores such as Williams Sonoma. They are a bit more expensive but come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I like the mesh ‘skillet’ I got last year because it cleans easily and the handle doesn’t get too hot (although I usually use an oven mitt anyway, just to be safe).

A mesh grill pan keeps cut up vegetables from falling through the grate

If you don’t have a grill pan and find yourself in a situation where you need one, it’s easy to improvise one for very little cost. Here’s what you’ll need:

A disposable aluminum foil pan, any size and shape you choose

A sharp pointed knife or scissors

Cooking spray or neutral oil

Pierce the bottom of the foil pan with the tip of your knife. Twist the tip so that it makes a hole about 1/2″ around. Repeat over the bottom of the pan. Carefully fold any sharp jagged edges under.

Spray pan with cooking spray or rub a small amount of neutral oil on the bottom of the pan. Grill items on the barbeque as desired.

Use a disposable foil pan in any shape and size you wish

Use the tip of a sharp knife to pierce the foil pan, twisting it to make the hole bigger

The finished product doesn't look fancy but it gets the job done

A word of caution: Be careful when removing the foil pan from the hot grill. They are flimsier than metal pans so use oven mitts and transfer the pan immediately to a baking sheet or large plate to carry.

Enjoy!

There is a new Kitchen Tip of the Week posted each week. You can also check out the archives for more tips and tricks.

Metal or ceramic trivets protect your counters and tabletop from hot pots but you can improvise one in a pinch

Many kitchens these days have gorgeous kitchen countertops made from marble, slate, granite or engineered stone. While they are tough, they are not indestructible so it’s important to take care of them. This means not putting hot pots and dishes down without some sort of barrier between the pot bottom and the counter. Trivets are heat-proof ‘coasters’ that you can set a pot on so it doesn’t damage the countertop or wood furniture. They are generally inexpensive and readily available at kitchen stores or grocery stores. However, if you don’t have one or do not have enough to accommodate all of your hot pots and casserole dishes, you can improvise a trivet very simply.

To Improvise a Trivet:

1. Unroll 2 feet (24″ or 60 cm) of aluminum foil and cut along the ‘teeth’ of the box.

2. Roll the foil into a ‘snake’.

3. Bend the foil tube into a coil.

4. Place hot pots or pans on the coil, pressing down lightly so the foil conforms to the shape of the pot and is sturdy. Et voila-instant trivet!

Last year I had started doing a weekly post on Kitchen Tips (search ‘Kitchen Tip of the Week’ to view archives). I stopped doing them in November because frankly, no one was reading them. However, my readership has grown a great deal since them (May 2009 was my best month to date – yay!) so I’ve decided to start featuring a weekly tip again. So if you’re interested in learning some new tricks and advice for the kitchen, please check back each week.

This week’s kitchen tip can help solve a common dilemma when entertaining guests. Have you ever prepared a platter of hors d’oeuvres with a side bowl of dipping sauce, only to have the smaller plate slide around as you’re transporting or serving the food? To prevent this, use a dab of honey (about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) under the smaller bowl to ‘glue’ it to the larger serving platter. Et voila! No more sliding around and spilling.